Archive Record

Oral History Interview with George A. Campbell, Stephen E. Ambrose WWII Oral History Class Project, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Date

1996

Event

World War II

Narrator's Name

George A. Campbell

Interviewer's Name

Zoe Van Orsdol

Description

In this oral history interview, George Archibald Campbell, a Barneveld, Wisconsin native, discusses his stateside Army service as an engineer during World War II and post-war activities in the Philippines.

Campbell talks about being in the Reserve Officers Training Corps during his two years at University of Wisconsin-Madison, getting drafted, and basic training with the 87th Infantry Division at the newly established Camp McCain (Mississippi). Assigned to the 312th Combat Engineering Battalion as a squad leader, Campbell touches on volunteering for a college training program and describes military life while attending Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge, including getting engaged. After finishing the program in 1944, he discusses applying for and attending Officer Candidate School at Fort Belvoir (Virginia) and, after tough training, graduating as a 120-day wonder. After going on leave to be married, he states he attended a six-week training program on construction engineering in forward battle and was shipped to the Pacific.

In Hawaii, Campbell states they learned that atomic bombs had been dropped on Japan and heard they were destined for Okinawa, and he relates he was at the Philippines when he heard the war was over. He discusses his assignment in the Philippines to repair roads and bridges, including having adequate supplies and hiring local help. Campbell also talks about duty with the Guerrilla Affairs Section, interviewing Filipinos and collecting affidavits to determine who should be paid for work in the Filipino underground movement. He portrays receiving a death threat from the Hukbalahap, a Filipino people’s resistance army. Campbell mentions that news of his son’s birth was delayed due to a cable strike.